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"In this day and age even though outwardly
it seems that in some ways we are in a much degenerated time,
please realize that we are nevertheless in a time when many
great masters exist. If we have pure vision, these masters
are inseparable from the great masters of the past and inseparable
from the Buddha himself.
So just open yourself totally without
any doubt. If we keep ourselves open, Guru Rinpoche, Tara,
all the Bohdisattvas are there, right in front of us, blessing
us all the time. So whether we are easterners or westerners,
our physical appearance doesn't matter - the blessings are
always there. So pursue your practice and be aware!"
- Khandro-la
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Nechung Monastery,
Dharamsala, India 20th May 2006
Now I am sitting in the Nechung Oracle's monastery
listening to the chanting and drums of the annual protection
puja. I am recollecting all that has happened since I last
wrote to you and feel the need to share some of these varied
experiences with you.
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So many things
have happened in these past four months. Teaching in Taiwan
was something special for me. It was my first teaching experience
in Asia. I was moved by the devotion of the people and their
commitment to the lineage. The food was fabulous and like in
other countries I felt well cared for by the Drukpa Kagyu centres.
I did a lot of sight-seeing, and for such a small country it
has a variety of landscapes, (oceans, mountains, cities). My
brother Jigme was always with me and he also enjoyed Taiwan.
So within a few short weeks I offered Chod
practice, Bodhichitta and Vajrayogini transmission teachings
and chanting. Although requested I escaped empowerments on
this trip, however in the future, if people's commitments
continue, I may offer when the time is ripe. During this trip,
I felt encouraged and appreciated that everyone (even men)
was open to hearing the teachings from a female practitioner's
point of view.
After the teachings my brother and I began
to feel tired and a little homesick. So we decided to have
some fun and rest for a few days in Singapore with some new
friends.
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I finally arrived back in my home country India just in time
for Losar, (Tibetan New Year). It was wonderful to celebrate
Losar with my old school friend Dorje, (a pilot for Indian
airlines) and his family in Delhi. After catching up, I then
headed back to my hometown Manali, situated in the far north
of India, in the foothills of the Himalayas. I was welcomed
home warmly by my brothers, nephews and nieces and a fresh
snowfall. I have always loved watching the snow- capped mountains
that surround my home and once again rested in the lap of
the gigantic Himalayas.
Over the next month, as well as having a happy family reunion
we worked quite hard on the groundwork of the administration
of the Khachodling Trust in India. However, soon it came time
to hop in a plane with my brother Jampal and his son Tenzin
to join together with a small group of my Australian/London
friends, for our Kalimpong/West Sikkim pilgrimage.
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This pilgrimage
was a deep personal experience of joy, sadness, rejuvenation,
vulnerability and care. This was the first time I returned to
Pedong for a happy occasion to celebrate and commemorate the
third anniversary since the death of my late husband H.H Shabdrung
Rinpoche. There were also many ritual ceremonies held, as well
as the annual ritual lama dancing (Tse Chu). After the dancing,
a month was dedicated to the unveiling and viewing of my husband's
holy body, which is still in a state of Samadhi. I felt very
proud to be able to show a glimpse of my world to my Western
students and they were very touched to get an insight into my
life. I also enjoyed guiding them into the holy sights of Guru
Padmasambhava and showing them all of the popular and crazy
tourist sites of the region. Jampal- la introduced Jane as Shane
Warne's sister at the Himalayan Zoological Park in Darjeeling
and Indian tourists gathered around her to take photos while
also offering her money.
Everyone in our group had something to offer.
Whether it was Jane who did such a beautiful job as group
leader, Zaina's healthy yoga, Izzy's Irish dancing, Susy's
ability to make people laugh (especially when she danced with
the joker during the Tse Chu), Claire's subtle beauty which
permeated on an energy level and Betty who held us together
with her love. There was also Lena who attended me with much
help and care and captured all our moments on film. Everyone
helped to keep us together as a wonderful group.
We made many offerings and prayers in various
monasteries for the vision of Khachodling, for world peace,
for Free Tibet and for the long life of all the great masters.
We raised prayer flags and sent blessings in all directions.
One of the biggest highlights of our pilgrimage was an amazing
visit to the beautiful and sacred Kechopuri Lake and ancient
Pemayantse gompa. At the lake we meditated and sent strong
prayers for our loved ones. I enjoyed being in such holy places
and feeling the wonderful energy there.
This whole pilgrimage was a success and has
changed the lives of those who had the opportunity to experience
it. Even though at times there were ups and downs, our deep
inner experiences led us to become very intimate, not only
with each other but with everyone as a whole. In the end this
made it difficult to say goodbye. I feel that this is how
a true spiritual journey should be and I feel happy to be
a bridge between the Eastern and the Western world.
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After the pilgrimage most of my students returned
home, but a few of them stayed with me and came to Manali.
Again I hadn't spent much time in my home since my husband's
passing so it was in need of some repair and renovation to
once again make it my home. I now have a good area to study,
to practice and to receive special guests.
After our work on my house was finished I
made a short visit to Tso Pema, Bir, Tashi Jong, and Dharamsala,
which was in some ways a continuation of our pilgrimage. There
I reconnected with many great lamas who are connected to my
lineage and family and whom I hadn't met since my marriage
to H.H Shabdrung Rinpoche. Some of them were Kamtrul Rinpoche,
Choegyal Rinpoche, Dozong Rinpoche, the Nechung State Oracle
and the reincarnation of my father Apho Rinpoche. They were
so happy to see me and it has been wonderful to feel their
support for my teaching and encouragement for me to pursue
my vision of Khachodling. Izzy, Jane and Teng also came to
Dharamsala and we made some future plans. I feel so happy
and grounded in my new stage of life, which feels like my
own chapter emerging. My unchanging love and dedication to
my lineage and culture finally feels acknowledged and appreciated.
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In Dharamsala
I was invited to stay in the Nechung Monastery and at the same
time the 3- week long annual protection puja was being held.
I could hear the noises of the horns and the drums from my room
and I send all the blessings to you. May your lives be filled
with boundless love, compassion and joy. I will soon be returning
to Manali where I will do a short retreat. Soon I will be on
my way to Ladakh where I will visit the nuns of Khachodling.
There are more pilgrimages coming in the near future, so please
try to come. Also keep watch as we are also planning more pilgrimages
for the coming year.
Farewell, thank you for your support to Khachodling
and I will give you more news. Till then, many blessings and
goodbye!
- Khandro Thrinlay Chodon
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Byron Bay Australia
1st January 2006
Dear Friends,
Happy New Year! Another year has passed and it has been a
long time since you have heard from me. I haven't disappeared
but I have been quite busy with the Khachodling project. During
2005 I made a long trip from Sweden to Argentina, and then
to America, and on this journey I gave talks and met many
friends who are interested in supporting Khachodling.
After returning home to India in June 2005
I did some retreat and I was ready to receive friends from
all over the world for a pilgrimage to the far north of the
Himalayas - Zanskar. The nuns of Khachodling were eagerly
waiting. In our group there were 17 westerners. They were
from Sweden, Poland, Iceland and the US. We were helped by
my brother Jampal's team, from his Golden Peak Travel Company,
who arranged everything very beautifully. Our trip started
from Delhi in the scorching heat and we travelled deep into
the Himalayan peaks, visiting caves, making prayers, hoisting
prayer flags and meeting families. It was a journey full of
insight, obstacles, fun, long drives, and camping in remote
places! We were welcomed everywhere due to my family connections.
Many of the participants on the pilgrimage
had special skills. Some were medical doctors and others were
nurses, so they offered their services to people we met on
the journey. There were architects and filmmakers who also
helped. In this way both eastern and western cultures benefited
from each other and I felt proud to perform my duties of bridging
east and west.
Two of the nuns from Khachodling came all
the way to Leh in Ladakh, to receive us. We headed towards
Zanskar in a comfortable tourist coach and camped overnight
at different sites along the way. Lama Rigdzin gave some teaching
and chanted for us. Before we reached Zanskar, my teacher
Stagna Rinpoche arrived in his jeep and there were hundreds
of people in traditional costumes waiting on roadsides to
welcome us. It was awesome and we camped in Sani and enjoyed
the Sani-Naro Festival with lama dancing. Next day we also
visited our nuns who are now living on the land we have been
granted. We had a nice reunion and many of the westerners
offered sponsorship for the practice and education of these
devoted nuns. The nuns were very happy and also appreciated
the progress we were making with planning future eco-friendly
buildings.
This is how our Khachodling mission is really
coming alive.
After this journey I did a retreat to ground
myself for the coming teaching tour to Australia. I left India
on the 21st October 2005 and have been touring different cities
in this beautiful country, Australia. I have been on the eastern
coast and have visited Brisbane, Byron Bay, Sydney and Melbourne.
I have been teaching and again meeting a lot of new friends
and supporters of the Khachodling Vision. People have really
appreciated my teachings and have invited me to return.
Also, a big thing happened. I met my childhood
sponsor, Laurie Seaman, after 27 years! He last visited me
in India when I was a teenager and he was an adventurous,
strong man. Now he is almost 80 years old and he is so proud
to see me having grown into an accomplished woman with a strong
compassionate vision. It was a deep and emotional meeting.
Now I am in Byron Bay having a quiet time,
enjoying my New Year. We went to the beach and had a quiet
candlelight puja wishing all beings peace. I hope everybody
is in good health and I wish this year brings everyone joy
and insight.
Soon I will be off to Taiwan and then home
to India. Now I really desire to have some quiet time for
retreat and rejuvenation and look forward to meeting many
of you during the latter part of this year when you come for
the pilgrimages in Kalimpong, Ladakh and Bhutan. Others of
you I look forward to meeting again at my teachings in the
future. Be well, be happy and don't forget to smile!
- Khandro-la
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"All this I offer to
my gurus"
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